Touch pad electrode design

ABSTRACT

A multi-touch capacitive touch sensor panel can be created using a substrate with column and row traces formed on separate layers of the substrate. The column and row traces can include sections extending from a central trace and forming a rectilinear trace pattern with sections of the columns and rows interdigitated with one another. The trace pattern can comprise a plurality of pixels arranged continuously across the sensor panel. In this manner, the sensor panel can provide a linear or near linear response to touches across the touch sensor panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to touch sensor panels, and more particularly, tocapacitive multi-touch sensor panels having rows and columns forming arectilinear pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of input devices are presently available for performingoperations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice,trackballs, touch panels, joysticks, touch screens and the like. Touchscreens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because oftheir ease and versatility of operation as well as their decliningprice. Touch screens can include a touch panel, which can be a clearpanel with a touch-sensitive surface. The touch panel can be positionedin front of a display screen so that the touch-sensitive surface coversthe viewable area of the display screen. Touch screens can allow a userto make selections and move a cursor by simply touching the displayscreen via a finger or stylus. In general, the touch screen canrecognize the touch and position of the touch on the display screen, andthe computing system can interpret the touch and thereafter perform anaction based on the touch event.

Touch panels can include an array of touch sensors capable of detectingtouch events (the touching of fingers or other objects upon atouch-sensitive surface). Some touch panels may be able to detectmultiple touches (the touching of fingers or other objects upon atouch-sensitive surface at distinct locations at about the same time)and near touches (fingers or other objects within the near-fielddetection capabilities of their touch sensors), and identify and tracktheir locations. Examples of multi-touch panels are described inApplicant's co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/842,862 entitled“Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed on May 6, 2004 and published as U.S.Published Application No. 2006/0097991 on May 11, 2006, the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein.

Capacitive touch sensor panels can be formed from rows and columns oftraces on opposite sides of a dielectric. At the “intersections” of thetraces, where the traces pass above and below each other (but do notmake direct electrical contact with each other), the traces essentiallyform two electrodes. Conventional touch panels for use over displaydevices have typically utilized a top layer of glass upon whichtransparent column traces of indium tin oxide (ITO) or antimony tinoxide (ATO) have been etched, and a bottom layer of glass upon which rowtraces of ITO have been etched. However, the use of transparent tracesis not required if the conductors are thin enough (on the order of 30microns). In addition, if panel transparency is not required (e.g. thetouch panel is not being used over a display device), the conductors canbe made out of an opaque material such as copper. The top and bottomglass layers are separated by a clear polymer spacer that acts as adielectric between the row and column traces.

To scan a sensor panel, a stimulus can be applied to one row with allother rows held at DC voltage levels. When a row is stimulated, amodulated output signal can be capacitively coupled onto the columns ofthe sensor panel. The columns can be connected to analog channels (alsoreferred to herein as event detection and demodulation circuits). Forevery row that is stimulated, each analog channel connected to a columngenerates an output value representative of an amount of change in themodulated output signal due to a touch or hover event occurring at thesensor located at the intersection of the stimulated row and theconnected column. After analog channel output values are obtained forevery column in the sensor panel, a new row is stimulated (with allother rows once again held at DC voltage levels), and additional analogchannel output values are obtained. When all rows have been stimulatedand analog channel output values have been obtained, the sensor panel issaid to have been “scanned,” and a complete “image” of touch or hovercan be obtained over the entire sensor panel. This image of touch orhover can include an analog channel output value for every pixel (rowand column) in the panel, each output value representative of the amountof touch or hover that was detected at that particular location.

Some conventional capacitance touch pad sensors, however, have exhibiteda more than optimal amount of noise and thermal drift. Furthermore, someconventional touch pad sensors have not provided a linear tosubstantially linear response as a finger, for example, moved across thesurface of the touch sensitive panel. Therefore, it is an object of someembodiments to reduce the effects of any noise and thermal drift, aswell as provide a linear or substantially linear response per areatouched on the touch sensitive surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-touch sensor panel can becreated having a substrate formed from a dielectric material. A firstplurality of traces of conductive material can be located on a firstlayer of the substrate. Each of the plurality of first traces cancomprise a first central trace arranged along a first dimension of atwo-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first tracebranches extending perpendicularly from the first central trace in asecond dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system. In addition,a second plurality of traces of the conductive material can be locatedon a second layer of the substrate. Each of the second plurality oftraces can comprise a second central trace arranged along the seconddimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending from thesecond central trace, and where at least some of the plurality of secondtrace branches can comprise a first extension branch extendingperpendicularly along the first dimension from one of the second centraltraces and at least one second extension branch extendingperpendicularly along the second dimension from the first extensionbranch. In some embodiments, at least some of the extension drive tracescan further include one or more second sections extendingperpendicularly from the first section. The driving traces can form aninterdigitated pattern across a touch sensitive portion of the sensorpanel.

In accordance with further embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor panelcan be created having a plurality of rectangular-shaped pixels arrangedacross a touch sensor panel. Each pixel can comprise a sensing tracehaving a central sensing trace arranged along a first dimension of atwo-coordinate system and a plurality of sensing braches extendingperpendicularly from the central sensing trace. Each pixel can furtherinclude a driving trace having a central driving trace arranged along asecond dimension of a two-coordinate system and a plurality of drivingbraches extending from the central driving trace. In some embodiments,at least some of the driving branches include a first section extendingperpendicularly from the central driving trace and one or more secondsections extending perpendicularly from the first section. The sensingbranches and the second sections of the driving branches can beinterdigitated with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computing system operable with acapacitive multi-touch sensor panel according to some embodiments ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 a illustrates an exemplary capacitive multi-touch panel accordingto some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 2 b is a side view of exemplary pixel in a steady-state (no-touch)condition according to some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 2 c is a side view of exemplary pixel in a dynamic (touch)condition according to some embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary capacitive touchsensor panel formed from a top layer of glass upon which transparentcolumn traces of ITO have been etched, and a bottom layer of glass uponwhich row traces of ITO have been etched.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary capacitive touch sensor panel fabricatedusing a double-sided ITO (DITO) substrate having column and row ITOtraces formed on either side of the substrate, and bonded between acover and an LCD using transparent adhesive according to someembodiments of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate(with its thickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustrationonly) with columns and rows formed on either side according to someembodiments of this invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flex circuit according to someembodiments of this invention, including flex circuit portions forconnecting to the row and column traces, respectively, on either side ofa DITO substrate, and a flex circuit portion for connecting to a hostprocessor.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate(with its thickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustrationonly) with columns and rows formed on either side, and small isolatedsquares between the columns and rows to provide a uniform appearance.

FIG. 8 illustrates a stackup of an exemplary double-sided touch panelalong with a cover and liquid crystal display (LCD) according to someembodiments.

FIG. 9 is top view of a rectilinear electrode pattern in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate (with itsthickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustration only)illustrating the rectilinear trace pattern according to some embodimentsof this invention.

FIG. 11 a illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone that can include thecapacitive touch sensor panel and a flex circuit capable of connectingto both sides of the substrate according to some embodiments of thisinvention.

FIG. 11 b illustrates an exemplary digital audio player that can includethe capacitive touch sensor panel and a flex circuit capable ofconnecting to both sides of the substrate according to some embodimentsof this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description of preferred embodiments, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which itis shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

Multi-touch sensor panels and their associated sensor panel circuitrymay be able to detect multiple touches (touch events or contact points)that occur at about the same time, and identify and track theirlocations. FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary computing system 100 operablewith capacitive multi-touch sensor panel 124 according to embodiments ofthis invention. Multi-touch sensor panel 124 can be created using asubstrate with column and row traces formed on either side of thesubstrate using a novel fabrication process. Flex circuits can be usedto connect the column and row traces on either side of the sensor panelto its associated sensor panel circuitry. Traces made of copper or otherhighly conductive metals running along the edge of the substrate can beused to bring the row traces to the same edge of the substrate as thecolumn traces so that the flex circuits can be bonded to the same edgeof the substrate on directly opposing sides of the substrate, minimizingthe area needed for connectivity and reducing the overall size of thesensor panel. A single flex circuit can be fabricated to connect to therows and columns on directly opposing sides at the same edge of thesubstrate. Furthermore, the row traces can be widened to shield thecolumn traces from a modulated Vcom layer.

Computing system 100 can include one or more panel processors 102 andperipherals 104, and panel subsystem 106. The one or more processors 102can include, for example, an ARM968 processors or other processors withsimilar functionality and capabilities. However, in other embodiments,the panel processor functionality can be implemented instead bydedicated logic such as a state machine. Peripherals 104 can include,but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or other types ofmemory or storage, watchdog timers and the like.

Panel subsystem 106 can include, but is not limited to, one or moreanalog channels 108, channel scan logic 110 and driver logic 114.Channel scan logic 110 can access RAM 112, autonomously read data fromthe analog channels and provide control for the analog channels. Thiscontrol can include multiplexing columns of multi-touch panel 124 toanalog channels 108. In addition, channel scan logic 110 can control thedriver logic and stimulation signals being selectively applied to rowsof multi-touch panel 124. In some embodiments, panel subsystem 106,panel processor 102 and peripherals 104 can be integrated into a singleapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Driver logic 114 can provide multiple panel subsystem outputs 116 andcan present a proprietary interface that drives high voltage driver,which is comprised of decoder 120 and subsequent level shifter anddriver stage 118, although level-shifting functions could be performedbefore decoder functions. Level shifter and driver 118 can provide levelshifting from a low voltage level (e.g. CMOS levels) to a higher voltagelevel, providing a better signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for noisereduction purposes. Decoder 120 can decode the drive interface signalsto one out of N outputs, whereas N is the maximum number of rows in thepanel. Decoder 120 can be used to reduce the number of drive linesneeded between the high voltage driver and panel 124. Each panel rowinput 122 can drive one or more rows in panel 124. In some embodiments,driver 118 and decoder 120 can be integrated into a single ASIC.However, in other embodiments driver 118 and decoder 120 can beintegrated into driver logic 114, and in still other embodiments driver118 and decoder 120 can be eliminated entirely.

Computing system 100 can also include host processor 128 for receivingoutputs from panel processor 102 and performing actions based on theoutputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving an object suchas a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting controlsettings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making aselection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral deviceconnected to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing atelephone call, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume oraudio settings, storing information related to telephone communicationssuch as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missedcalls, logging onto a computer or a computer network, permittingauthorized individuals access to restricted areas of the computer orcomputer network, loading a user profile associated with a user'spreferred arrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to webcontent, launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding amessage, and/or the like. Host processor 128 can also perform additionalfunctions that may not be related to panel processing, and can becoupled to program storage 132 and display device 130 such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD) for providing a UI to a user of the device.

As mentioned above, multi-touch panel 124 can in some embodimentsinclude a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of row traces ordriving lines and a plurality of column traces or sensing lines(although other sensing media may also be used) separated by adielectric. In some embodiments, the dielectric material can betransparent, such as glass, or can be formed from other materials suchas Mylar. The row and column traces can be formed from a transparentconductive medium such as ITO or ATO, although other transparent ornon-transparent materials such as copper can also be used. In someembodiments, the row and column traces can be perpendicular to eachother, although in other embodiments other non-orthogonal andnon-Cartesian orientations are possible. For example, in a polarcoordinate system, the sensing lines can be concentric circles and thedriving lines can be radially extending lines (or vice versa). It shouldbe understood, therefore, that the terms “row” and “column,” “firstdimension” and “second dimension,” or “first axis” and “second axis” asmay be used herein are intended to encompass not only orthogonal grids,but the intersecting traces of other geometric configurations havingfirst and second dimensions (e.g. the concentric and radial lines of apolar-coordinate arrangement).

At the “intersections” of the traces, where the traces pass above andbelow each other (but do not make direct electrical contact with eachother), the traces essentially form two electrodes (although more thantwo traces could intersect as well). Each intersection of row and columntraces can represent a capacitive sensing node and can be viewed aspicture element (pixel) 126, which can be particularly useful whenmulti-touch panel 124 is viewed as capturing an “image” of touch. (Inother words, after multi-touch subsystem 106 has determined whether atouch event has been detected at each touch sensor in the multi-touchpanel, the pattern of touch sensors in the multi-touch panel at which atouch event occurred can be viewed as an “image” of touch (e.g. apattern of fingers touching the panel).) The capacitance between row andcolumn electrodes appears as a stray capacitance on all columns when thegiven row is held at DC and as a mutual capacitance Csig when the givenrow is stimulated with an AC signal. The presence of a finger or otherobject near or on the multi-touch panel can be detected by measuringchanges to Csig. The columns of multi-touch panel 124 can drive one ormore analog channels 108 (also referred to herein as event detection anddemodulation circuits) in multi-touch subsystem 106. In someembodiments, each column is coupled to one dedicated analog channel 108.However, in other embodiments, the columns may be couplable via ananalog switch to a fewer number of analog channels 108.

FIG. 2 a illustrates exemplary capacitive multi-touch panel 200. FIG. 2a indicates the presence of a stray capacitance Cstray at each pixel 202located at the intersection of a row 204 and a column 206 trace(although Cstray for only one column is illustrated in FIG. 2 forpurposes of simplifying the figure). Note that although FIG. 2 aillustrates rows 204 and columns 206 as being substantiallyperpendicular, they need not be so aligned, as described above. In theexample of FIG. 2 a, AC stimulus Vstim 214 is being applied to one row,with all other rows connected to DC. The stimulus causes a charge to beinjected into the column electrodes through mutual capacitance at theintersecting points. This charge is Qsig=Csig×Vstm. Each of columns 206may be selectively connectable to one or more analog channels (seeanalog channels 108 in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 b is a side view of exemplary pixel 202 in a steady-state(no-touch) condition. In FIG. 2 b, an electric field of electric fieldlines 208 of the mutual capacitance between column 206 and row 204traces or electrodes separated by dielectric 210 is shown.

FIG. 2 c is a side view of exemplary pixel 202 in a dynamic (touch)condition. In FIG. 2 c, finger 212 has been placed near pixel 202.Finger 212 is a low-impedance object at signal frequencies, and has anAC capacitance Cfinger from the column trace 204 to the body. The bodyhas a self-capacitance to ground Cbody of about 200 pF, where Cbody ismuch larger than Cfinger. If finger 212 blocks some electric field lines208 between the row and column electrodes (those fringing fields thatexit the dielectric and pass through the air above the row electrode),those electric field lines are shunted to ground through the capacitancepath inherent in the finger and the body, and as a result, the steadystate signal capacitance Csig is reduced by ΔCsig. In other words, thecombined body and finger capacitance act to reduce Csig by an amountΔCsig (which can also be referred to herein as Csig_sense), and can actas a shunt or dynamic return path to ground, blocking some of theelectric fields as resulting in a reduced net signal capacitance. Thesignal capacitance at the pixel becomes Csig−ΔCsig, where Csigrepresents the static (no touch) component and ΔCsig represents thedynamic (touch) component. Note that Csig−ΔCsig may always be nonzerodue to the inability of a finger, palm or other object to block allelectric fields, especially those electric fields that remain entirelywithin the dielectric material. In addition, it should be understoodthat as a finger is pushed harder or more completely onto themulti-touch panel, the finger can tend to flatten, blocking more andmore of the electric fields, and thus ΔCsig can be variable andrepresentative of how completely the finger is pushing down on the panel(i.e. a range from “no-touch” to “full-touch”).

Referring again to FIG. 2 a, as mentioned above, Vstim signal 214 can beapplied to a row in multi-touch panel 200 so that a change in signalcapacitance can be detected when a finger, palm or other object ispresent. Vstim signal 214 can be generated as one or more pulse trains216 at a particular frequency, with each pulse train including a numberof pulses. Although pulse trains 216 are shown as square waves, otherwaveshapes such as sine waves can also be employed. A plurality of pulsetrains 216 at different frequencies can be transmitted for noisereduction purposes to detect and avoid noisy frequencies. Vstim signal214 essentially injects a charge into the row, and can be applied to onerow of multi-touch panel 200 at a time while all other rows are held ata DC level. However, in other embodiments, the multi-touch panel can bedivided into two or more sections, with Vstim signal 214 beingsimultaneously applied to one row in each section and all other rows inthat region section held at a DC voltage.

Each analog channel coupled to a column measures the mutual capacitanceformed between that column and the row. This mutual capacitance iscomprised of the signal capacitance Csig and any change Csig_sense inthat signal capacitance due to the presence of a finger, palm or otherbody part or object. These column values provided by the analog channelsmay be provided in parallel while a single row is being stimulated, ormay be provided in series. If all of the values representing the signalcapacitances for the columns have been obtained, another row inmulti-touch panel 200 can be stimulated with all others held at a DCvoltage, and the column signal capacitance measurements can be repeated.Eventually, if Vstim has been applied to all rows, and the signalcapacitance values for all columns in all rows have been captured (i.e.the entire multi-touch panel 200 has been “scanned”), a “snapshot” ofall pixel values can be obtained for the entire multi-touch panel 200.This snapshot data can be initially saved in the multi-touch subsystem,and later transferred out for interpretation by other devices in thecomputing system such as the host processor. As multiple snapshots areobtained, saved and interpreted by the computing system, it is possiblefor multiple touches to be detected, tracked, and used to perform otherfunctions.

As described above, because the rows may be either stimulated with an ACsignal or held at a DC voltage level, and because the columns need to beconnected to analog channels so that modulated output signals can bedetected, demodulated and converted to output values, electricalconnections must be formed with the rows and columns on either side ofthe dielectric of the sensor panel.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary capacitive touchsensor panel 300 formed from a top layer of glass 302 upon whichtransparent column traces of ITO 304 have been etched, and a bottomlayer of glass 306 upon which row traces of ITO 308 have been etched.The top and bottom glass layers 302 and 306 are separated by a clearpolymer spacer 310 that acts as a dielectric between the row and columntraces. Because the rows and columns are perpendicular to each other,the most straightforward way to connect to these rows and columns is tobond flex circuit 312 at one edge of the sensor panel, and bond anotherflex circuit 314 on an adjacent edge of the sensor panel. However,because the connection areas for these flex circuits 312 and 314 are noton the same edge of sensor panel 300 and are not on directly opposingsides of dielectric 310, the sensor panel must be made larger toaccommodate these two non-overlapping connection areas.

Capacitive touch sensor panels typically form the row and column traceson two pieces of glass as shown in FIG. 3 because it has not beenpractical to form column and row traces on either side of a singlesubstrate. Conventional methods for forming ITO traces on one side of asubstrate require that the substrate be placed on rollers during thefabrication process. However, if the substrate is then flipped over toform ITO traces on the second side, the rollers will damage any tracespreviously formed on the first side of the substrate. Furthermore, whenetching is used to etch away part of the ITO to form traces on one sideof the substrate, the entire substrate is conventionally placed in anetching bath, which will etch away any traces previously formed on theother side of the substrate.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary capacitive touch sensor panel 400fabricated using a double-sided ITO (DITO) substrate 402 having columnand row ITO traces 404 and 406, respectively, formed on either side ofthe substrate, and bonded between cover 408 and LCD 410 usingtransparent adhesive 412 according to embodiments of this invention.Substrate 402 can be formed from glass, plastic, hybrid glass/plasticmaterials, and the like. Cover 408 can be formed from glass, acrylic,sapphire, and the like. To connect to column and row traces 404 and 406,respectively, two flex circuit portions 414 can be bonded to directlyopposing sides at the same edge of DITO 402, although other bondinglocations may also be employed.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate500 (with its thickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustrationonly) with columns 502 and rows 508 formed on either side according toembodiments of this invention. Some of column ITO traces 502 on the topside are routed to a necked-down connector area 504, where they arebrought off the panel by a flex circuit portion 506 that can beconductively bonded to the top of DITO substrate 500. In someembodiments, row ITO traces 508 on the bottom side can be connected tothin metal traces 510 that run alongside the edges of the bottom side.Metal traces 510 can be routed to connector area 512, which can bedirectly opposing connector area 504, or at least on the same edge ofDITO substrate 500 as connector area 504. Providing connector areas 504and 512 at the same edge of DITO substrate 500 can allow the substrateand therefore the product to be smaller. Another flex circuit portion514 can be used to bring row ITO traces 508 off the panel.

Column and row ITO traces 502 and 508 can be formed on both sides ofDITO substrate 500 using several fabrication methods. In one embodiment,a substrate can be placed on the rollers of the fabrication machineryand a layer of ITO can be sputtered onto a first side of DITO substrate500 and etched (e.g. using photolithography techniques) to form columntraces 502. A protective coating of photoresist (e.g. two layers ofphotoresist) can then be applied over the column traces 502, and DITOsubstrate 500 can be flipped over so that the rollers make contact onlywith the applied photoresist on the first side and not the formed columntraces. Another layer of ITO can then be sputtered onto the now-exposedback side of DITO substrate 500 and etched to form row traces 508.

If no metal traces 510 are required, the photoresist on the first sidecan be stripped off to complete the process. However, if metal traces510 are required at the edges to connect to row traces 508 and bringthem to a particular edge of the substrate, a protective coating ofphotoresist (e.g. two layers of photoresist) can be applied over rowtraces 508, leaving the edges exposed. A metal layer can then besputtered over the photoresist and exposed edges, and the metal layercan then be etched to form metal traces 510 at the edges. Finally, allremaining layers of photoresist can be stripped off.

Minor variations to the process described above can also be made. Forexample, the second side of the DITO substrate patterning may be formedby first patterning a photoresist using very simple geometry to coveronly the interior region of the second side of the DITO substrate whileleaving the edge regions exposed. For this variation, metal is sputteredfirst and then the photoresist with simple geometry is then stripped offto leave metal in the edge regions only. Then the ITO is sputtered overthe entire second side of the DITO substrate. A second photoresist isapplied and patterned to form the mask for the electrode patterns. Aseries of etching steps is then used to form the electrode pattern inthe topmost ITO layer and metal layer underneath. The first etchingsteps etches the ITO only, and the second etch steps etches the metallayer only which produces the desired electrode geometry.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flex circuit 600 according toembodiments of this invention, including flex circuit portions 606 and614 for connecting to the row and column traces, respectively, on eitherside of a DITO substrate, and flex circuit portion 608 for connecting toa host processor. Flex circuit 600 includes a circuit area 602 uponwhich the multi-touch subsystem, multi-touch panel processor, the highvoltage driver and decoder circuitry (see FIG. 1), an EEPROM and someessential small components such as bypass capacitors can be mounted andconnected to save space. Circuit area 602 may be shielded by an EMI can(not shown) which encloses circuit area 602 using top and bottom shieldportions. The bottom can may be adhered to a structure of the device tosecure the circuit area. From this circuit area 602, flex circuit 600may connect to the top of the DITO substrate via flex circuit portion606, to the bottom of the DITO substrate via flex circuit portion 614,and to a host processor via flex circuit portion 608.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate700 (with its thickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustrationonly) with columns 702 and rows 708 formed on either side. As shown inFIG. 7, column traces 702 can be about 1 mm wide, with a spacing ofabout 4 mm between the traces, and row traces 708 can be about 2 mmwide, with a spacing of about 3 mm between the rows. To create a moreuniform appearance, small isolated squares of ITO 704 can be formedbetween the column and row traces 702 and 708 on either side of DITOsubstrate 700, with narrow spacing (e.g. about 30 microns) between theisolated squares of ITO, so that either side of the DITO substrateprovides a uniform appearance similar to a solid sheet of ITO.

FIG. 8 illustrates a stackup of an exemplary double-sided touch panel800 along with cover 802 and liquid crystal display (LCD) 804 accordingto embodiments of this invention. From top to bottom, LCD 804 caninclude polarizer 806, top glass layer 808, liquid crystal layer 810,bottom glass layer 812, polarizer 814, and backlight 816.

From top to bottom, liquid crystal layer 810 can include RGB colorfilter layer 818, planarization layer 820, a conductive unpatternedlayer of ITO referred to as Vcom layer 822, polyamide layer 824, liquidcrystal layer 826, and polyamide layer 828. Beneath polyamide layer 828is a layer of ITO rectangles and TFTs (collectively referred to hereinas TFT layer 830), with one ITO rectangle and TFT for each sub-pixel(where three sub-pixels comprise a pixel).

Color filter layer 818 provides the three RGB colors that make up eachpixel when illuminated by light, wherein the ratio of colors determinesthe color of that pixel. Planarization layer 820 can be formed fromclear plastic to smooth out the surface of color filter layer 818. Vcomstands for “Voltage common” because Vcom layer 822 provides a commonvoltage for the ITO subpixels of TFT layer 830. Vcom layer 822 may bemaintained at a constant voltage (LCDs using a constant Vcom voltage maybe referred to as DC or constant Vcom LCDs) or modulated with an ACsignal. Polyamide layers 824 and 828 serve to pre-align the orientationof liquid crystals in liquid crystal layer 826. To create the color forone pixel, the ITO squares for each subpixel in TFT layer 830 can havevoltages applied to them with respect to Vcom layer 822, which causesthe liquid crystals to align and allow light from backlight 816 to passthrough liquid crystal layer 826 and through the RGB color filters incolor filter layer 818.

As mentioned above, although Vcom layer 822 can be held constant, insome embodiments the Vcom layer can be driven by a modulated signal(e.g. a squareware from about 1 to 4 volts). However, when Vcom layer822 is driven by a modulated signal, the modulated signal may becapacitively coupled (see reference character 834) through the sparseconductors of rows 836 on the bottom of double-sided touch panel 800 andonto columns 838, causing noise on the columns. Note that rows 836 arereferred to as “sparse,” even though it includes many closely spaced ITOsquares, because the squares are isolated and therefore of negligibleeffect from a shielding standpoint. Note also that although modulatedVcom layer 822 is also capacitively coupled onto rows 836, because therows are being driven by driver circuitry with low impedance outputs,any capacitive coupling is shunted to the driver outputs, and hasnegligible effect. However, columns 838 are designed to sense smallchanges in the AC capacitance of the touch panel, so the capacitivecoupling from modulated Vcom layer 822 can easily be seen as noise atthe analog channels receiving the columns.

FIG. 9 is a top view of rectilinear electrode pattern 900 in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention. Similar to embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, rectilinear pattern 900 can include a pluralityof row traces 902 and column traces 904. In contrast to the embodimentin FIG. 3, however, rectilinear electrode pattern 900 can includeadditional trace sections extending perpendicularly from rows 902 andcolumns 904, as described below.

Further to FIG. 9, each column trace 904 can include a central columntrace 906, which can extend vertically in the y-axis, and plurality ofcolumn extension traces 908, each column extension trace 908 extendingperpendicularly in the x-axis from both sides of central column trace906. In this manner, each column trace 904 can be described as having aladder-like pattern. Each row trace 902 can include a central row trace912, which can extend horizontally in the x-axis, and a plurality offirst extension row traces 914, each first row extension trace extendingperpendicularly in the y-axis from both sides of one of the plurality ofcentral row traces 912. Each row trace 902 can additionally include aplurality of second row extension traces 916, each second row extensiontrace 916 extending perpendicularly in the x-axis (parallel to thecentral row trace 912) from one of first extension row traces 914. Inthis manner, rectilinear electrode pattern 900 can be described ashaving interdigitated row traces 902 and column traces 904, asillustrated in FIG. 9.

Rectilinear pattern 900 shown in FIG. 9 can be considered as a 2×2 pixelpattern in accordance with some embodiments. Each pixel can be definedas having a center 920 located at an intersection (i.e. where column androw overlap) and extend in half-way between each adjacent intersection.The electrode pattern illustrated in FIG. 9 can define four pixel areas,defined by four rectangular-shaped pixels of equal size. FIG. 9illustrates only four pixels for ease of understanding, but it isunderstood that many more pixels can added as needed by repeating pixelpatterns in the x dimension, y dimension, or both dimensions.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 has five column extensions 908between each intersection 920 along center column 906, but more or fewercolumn extensions 908 can be used in other embodiments. Furthermore,FIG. 9 illustrates one first row extension 912 between each intersection920, and each first row extension 914 having two second row extensions916 extending therefrom; however, more or fewer first and/or second rowextensions, 914 and 916 respectively, can be used in other embodiments.

The below describes exemplary dimensions of pattern 900 in accordancewith some embodiments. Row and column traces 902 and 904, respectively,can be in the range of 100 to 200 microns in width (reference A in FIG.9) and, in some embodiments, can be 150 microns. Gaps B between adjacentvertical row traces 914 in the y-dimension can be in the range of 100 to300 microns and, in some embodiments, can be 200 microns. Layer to layergaps C between adjacent row trace 916 and column trace 908 in they-dimension can be 50 to 550 microns, and in some embodiments, is 200microns. Layer to layer Gaps D between adjacent central column 904 androw extension 916 in the x-dimension can be 50 to 550 microns, and insome embodiments, is 200 microns. Gaps E between adjacent columnextension traces 908 can be 500 microns. Each pixel can have a height Fof about 5000 microns and a width G of about 5000 microns.

In accordance with some embodiments, row traces 902 and column traces904 of pattern 900 can be constructed so that a significant portion ofthe capacitance between row traces 902 and column traces 904 can bebetween non-overlapping portions of the electrodes (traces). Theseembodiments can have a better ratio of Csig to ΔCsig, which can lead tobetter performance, because thermal drift errors related to a sensingcircuit, that scale with ΔCsig, can be less with Csig. A reason for thiscan be because the overlap areas are reduced or minimized.

Another advantage of pattern 900 can be that, because the traces aremostly horizontal, the pattern 900 can tolerate large X mismatch betweenthe two layers (row and column traces) and still have consistent oruniform Csig. In addition, Y gaps (such as gap C in FIG. 9) between thetraces can be large enough so that Y mismatch between layers can stillproduce an acceptably small variation in Csig.

Another advantage of pattern 900 can be that as a finger, for example,is moved across the surface of a sensor panel implementing pattern 900,the distance versus response ratio can be continuous or nearlycontinuous.

The pattern can also be easily adjusted for more or less Csig and ΔCsig.For example, by changing the tracewidths of the traces and theirspacing, different Csig's and ΔCsigs can be obtained. In someembodiments, to achieve optimum results (e.g. large ΔCsig and a smallCsig), the tracewidth can be minimized, and gap C, in FIG. 9 can be madeapproximately equal to the thickness of the dielectric label that coversthe electrodes and separates it from the finger.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary DITO substrate 1000 (withits thickness greatly exaggerated for purposes of illustration only)with rows 1002 and columns 1004 on either side forming a rectilinearpattern, like rectilinear pattern 900. It should be noted that use ofrectilinear pattern is not limited to a DITO substrate, but can also beused in other embodiments. For example, rectilinear patterns inaccordance with some embodiments can be used in sensor panels usingmultiple layers, such as described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 a illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone 1136 that caninclude capacitive touch sensor panel 1124 and flex circuit 1134 capableof connecting to both sides of the substrate according to embodiments ofthis invention. Sensor panel 1124 can be fabricated using a substratehaving column and row ITO traces formed on either side of the substrate,using pattern 900 for example, and metal traces form along the edges ofone side of the substrate to allow flex circuit connection areas to belocated on opposing sides of the same edge of the substrate. FIG. 11 billustrates an exemplary digital audio/video player 1138 that caninclude capacitive touch sensor panel 1124 and flex circuit 1134 capableof connecting to both sides of the substrate according to embodiments ofthis invention. Sensor panel 1124 can be fabricated using a substratehaving column and row ITO traces formed on either side of the substrate,using pattern 900 for example, and metal traces form along the edges ofone side of the substrate to allow flex circuit connection areas to belocated on opposing sides of the same edge of the substrate.

Although the present invention has been fully described in connectionwith embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, itis to be noted that various changes and modifications will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications areto be understood as being included within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising: a substrate formed froma dielectric material; a first plurality of traces of conductivematerial located on a first layer of the substrate, each of theplurality of first traces comprising a first central trace arrangedalong a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and aplurality of first trace branches extending perpendicularly from thefirst central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensionalcoordinate system; and a second plurality of traces of the conductivematerial located on a second layer of the substrate, each of the secondplurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged along thesecond dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending fromthe second central trace, at least some of the plurality of second tracebranches comprising a first extension branch extending perpendicularlyalong the first dimension from one of the second central traces and atleast one second extension branch extending perpendicularly along thesecond dimension from the first extension branch.
 2. The capacitivetouch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein portions of the first pluralityof traces are interdigitated with portions of the second plurality oftraces.
 3. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 2, wherein thefirst central trace overlaps at one point with the second central trace.4. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising acomputing system that incorporates the sensor panel.
 5. The capacitivetouch sensor panel of claim 4, further comprising a mobile telephonethat incorporates the computing system.
 6. The capacitive touch sensorpanel of claim 4, further comprising a digital audio player thatincorporates the computing system.
 7. A capacitive touch sensor panel,comprising: sense traces formed on a dielectric substrate, each of thesense traces comprising a central sense trace arranged along a firstdimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality ofextension sense traces extending perpendicularly from the central sensetrace along a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system;and drive traces formed on the substrate, each drive trace comprising acentral drive trace arranged along the second dimension and a pluralityof extension drive traces, wherein at least some of the plurality ofextension drive traces include a first section of arranged along thethird dimension.
 8. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 7,wherein at least some of the extension drive traces further include oneor more second sections extending perpendicularly from the firstsection,
 9. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 7, wherein thesense traces and the driving traces form an interdigitated patternacross a touch sensitive portion of the sensor panel.
 10. The capacitivetouch sensor panel of claim 9, wherein the central sense trace and thecentral drive trace overlap at perpendicular angles.
 11. The capacitivetouch sensor panel of claim 7, wherein the sense traces and the drivetraces form a plurality of continuous or substantially continuouspixels.
 12. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 11, wherein thecenter of each of the plurality of pixels is where the sense traces andthe drive traces overlap.
 13. A capacitive touch sensor panel,comprising: a plurality of rectangular-shaped pixels arranged across atouch sensor panel; wherein each pixel comprises: a sensing trace havinga central sensing trace arranged along a first dimension of atwo-coordinate system and a plurality of sensing braches extendingperpendicularly from the central sensing trace; and a driving tracehaving a central driving trace arranged along a second dimension of atwo-coordinate system and a plurality of driving braches extending fromthe central driving trace.
 14. The capacitive touch sensor panel ofclaim 13, wherein the central sensing trace and the central drivingtrace overlap at a central portion of the pixel.
 15. The capacitivetouch sensor panel of claim 13, wherein at least some of the drivingbranches include a first section extending perpendicularly from thecentral driving trace and one or more second sections extendingperpendicularly from the first section.
 16. The capacitive touch sensorpanel of claim 15, wherein the sensing branches and the second sectionsof the driving branches are interdigitated with one another.
 17. Thecapacitive touch sensor panel of claim 13, wherein first and secondsensing branches of the plurality of sensing branches define first andsecond sides of the pixel, respectively, and first and second drivingbranches of the plurality of driving branches define third and fourthsides of the pixel, respectively.
 18. The capacitive touch sensor panelof claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of sensing branches arespaced apart from the central driving trace and the plurality of drivingbranches.
 19. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 13, wherein theplurality of pixels are arranged in a continuous fashion across thetouch sensor panel.
 20. The capacitive touch sensor of claim 13, whereinthe sensing branches are
 21. A mobile telephone having a capacitivetouch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel comprising: a substrateformed from a dielectric material; a first plurality of traces ofconductive material located on a first layer of the substrate, each ofthe plurality of first traces comprising a first central trace arrangedalong a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and aplurality of first trace branches extending perpendicularly from thefirst central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensionalcoordinate system; and a second plurality of traces of the conductivematerial located on a second layer of the substrate, each of the secondplurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged along thesecond dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending fromthe second central trace, at least some of the plurality of second tracebranches comprising a first extension branch extending perpendicularlyalong the first dimension from one of the second central traces and atleast one second extension branch extending perpendicularly along thesecond dimension from the first extension branch.
 22. A digital audioplayer having a capacitive touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panelcomprising: a substrate formed from a dielectric material; a firstplurality of traces of conductive material located on a first layer ofthe substrate, each of the plurality of first traces comprising a firstcentral trace arranged along a first dimension of a two-dimensionalcoordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches extendingperpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension ofthe two-dimensional coordinate system; and a second plurality of tracesof the conductive material located on a second layer of the substrate,each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central tracearranged along the second dimension and a plurality of second tracebranches extending from the second central trace, at least some of theplurality of second trace branches comprising a first extension branchextending perpendicularly along the first dimension from one of thesecond central traces and at least one second extension branch extendingperpendicularly along the second dimension from the first extensionbranch.